Medicare Eligibility and Enrollment

En español | Medicare: Am I Eligible?AARP's Medicare Question and Answer Tool works as an online planning resource, designed to assist those who are eligible for Medicare benefits as well as those who are unsure. The Medicare Q and A Tool acts also as a guide, explaining in plain English eligibility, how to enroll, when to enroll and how to choose the best plan for you. AARP's Medicare Question and Answer Tool is a starting point toward an informed decision about your Medicare coverage and your eligibility.

A. People with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) usually get their health care through Original Medicare and may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only in specific circumstances. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Federal law guarantees you the right to buy any Medicare supplement insurance policy available where you live during the six months after you turn 65 and first enroll in Medicare Part B. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. You have a one-time six-month Medigap open enrollment period that starts the first month you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. This period gives you a guaranteed right to buy any Medigap policy sold in your state regardless of your health status. Once this period starts, it can't be delayed or replaced. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Medicare doesn't generally pay for medical services outside of the United States and its territories except in extremely rare circumstances. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

Initial Enrollment

A. You can call the plan directly or use their online enrollment, if available. You can also call Medicare at 800-633-4227 (TTY 877-486-2048) or use Medicare’s online enrollment at www.medicare.gov. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. The Medicare prescription drug plan finder tool gives a star rating to Medicare drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans in order to help consumers find high quality plans in their local areas. You can also call Medicare at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) to get the same information. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. If you are newly eligible for Medicare, you can enroll three months prior to the month you become eligible and up to three months after the month you become eligible — a seven-month period. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Medicare Part D is optional. You do not have to join a Medicare prescription drug plan. But, if you later decide you want Part D coverage, and you didn’t have drug coverage as least as good as what Medicare provides, you will pay a penalty. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. When you are first eligible for Medicare, you have a six-month Medigap open enrollment period. Once this enrollment period ends, if you cancel your Medigap policy you might not be able to reenroll at a later date. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

Open Enrollment

A. Here are some of the actions you can take during Open Enrollment: • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan • Change from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare • Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare. • Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan. • Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to another Medicare Advantage plan that offers drug coverage • Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that offers drug coverage to another Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage • Join a Medicare prescription drug plan. • Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to another Medicare prescription drug plan. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. During the open enrollment period you will be able to stay with your current plan, switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or select Original Medicare and a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. If your Medicare Advantage plan is ending at the end of the year, you have two options: 1. You can join another Medicare Advantage plan; and 2. You can enroll in Original Medicare. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Generally, if you join a Medicare Advantage plan, you can only change plans during the open enrollment period that takes place from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Generally, unless you have coverage from another source (like your employer) if you drop Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, you will need to pay a penalty if you later decide to enroll again. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Generally, if you join a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan you can switch your plan during the open enrollment period, which takes place each year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. When you are first eligible for Medicare, you have a six-month Medigap open enrollment period. Once this enrollment period ends, if you cancel your Medigap policy you might not be able to reenroll at a later date. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

Special Enrollment

A. Yes, but only during specific enrollment periods. You can file online for Medicare during the general enrollment period (GEP) from Jan. 1 through Mar. 31 of each year. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Some people don’t need Medicare Part B because they are still working and covered by an employer’s plan or their spouse’s health plan. However, if you do not join Part B right away and you are not covered under another health care plan, you will have a late enrollment penalty for Part B coverage if you enroll later.

A. Yes, but only during specific enrollment periods. You can file online for Medicare during the general enrollment period (GEP) from Jan. 1 through Mar. 31 of each year. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. If the drug coverage you had was as least as good as Medicare’s you can enroll in a Part D plan without penalty if you don’t go 63 days or longer without drug coverage. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

Late Enrollment

A. Generally, a 10 percent premium penalty will be added to the Part B monthly premium for each 12-month period you could have enrolled but did not. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. If the drug coverage you had was as least as good as Medicare’s you can enroll in a Part D plan without penalty if you don’t go 63 days or longer without drug coverage. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Generally, the penalty for signing up late is an extra 1 percent of the national base Part D premium times the number of full, uncovered months that you were eligible but didn't join a Medicare drug plan and went without other drug coverage that was at least a good as Medicare's. You will have to pay the higher premium for as long as you have Part D.

A. Generally, a 10 percent premium penalty will be added to the Part B monthly premium for each 12-month period you could have enrolled but did not. — To view the complete answer, select the question above.

A. Generally, a penalty of 1 percent per month will be added to the Part D monthly premium for each month you could have enrolled but did not enroll or have coverage at least as good as Medicare’s, also known as “creditable coverage.” — To view the complete answer, select the question above.